SmartState

The SmartState Program brings together the brightest minds and innovative technology
to advance the quality of life for South Carolinians and the economy of our state.
SmartState Centers work to develop patents and products, commercialize technology,
create new companies and jobs and increase our state's per-capita income.

It's been little more than a decade since the South Carolina SmartState Program was established by the state's General Assembly in 2002 with $180 million of non-tax
revenue generated from the South Carolina Education Lottery. This investment is paying
off, as the SmartState Program has already attracted more than $1.4 Billion in investments
in our state from businesses and foundations in search of innovation, collaboration,
and talented, well-prepared employees. SmartState has also created more than 8,000
jobs, and the program continues to attract a prestigious list of corporate partners
such as BMW, Boeing, GM, SCANA, Fluor and many more eager to pursue joint research
with our state's research universities and employ their graduates.

Appropriated South Carolina Education Lottery funds and legislatively mandated dollar-for-dollar
matching non-state funds provide support for hiring world-class researchers who serve
as the endowed chairs of these SmartState Centers. Since its inception, the SmartState
Program has brought the knowledge and expertise of 43 world-class scientists to South
Carolina. The University of South Carolina is the lead or sole research institution
for 18 SmartState Centers and is a supporting research collaborator in eight more,
working with the Medical University of South Carolina and Clemson University. Carolina's
other research partners are South Carolina State University and Coastal Carolina University.